Channel indicator

ABSTRACT

A channel indicator generally comprises a plurality of channel indicating members respectively indicating a channel number, an indicator body which is capable of mounting and accommodating the channel indicating members individually replaceably, and a knob portion which is rotatable integrally with the indicator body. The channel indicator indicates the channel numbers in cooperation with a tuner. The channel indicating members can be individually removed from the indicator body and replaced.

United States Patent 11 1 Yamamura Aug. 7, 1973 CHANNEL INDICATOR [75]Inventor: Takashi Yamamura, lba raki, Japan [73] Assignee: VictorCompany of Japan, Ltd.,

Yokohama City, Kanagawa-ken,

Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 212,161

[52] U.S. Cl ll6/l24.l, 74/553, 1l6/124.4,

325/455, 334/86 [51] Int. Cl. H03j l/0 2 [58] Field of Search 116/124.1,124.2,

1l6/l24.3, 124.4, 133; 325/455, 464, 465; 334/86, 87, 50; 29/161; 40/20A, 26, 331; 74/553 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,332,6043/1920 Chester l16/l24.2 R 1,533,297 4/1925 Aller 40/5 UX 1,599,0349/1926 Weston 1l6/l24.2 R

2,257,022 9/1941 Pressley 116/129 R 2,861,538 ll/l958 2,926,626 3/19603,029,772 3/1962 Primary Examiner-Louis .1. Capozi Au0rney1-1olman &Stern [57] ABSTRACT A channel indicator generally comprises a pluralityof channel indicating members respectively indicating a channel number,an indicator body which is capable of mounting and accommodating thechannel indicating members individually replaceably, and a knob portionwhich is rotatable integrally with the indicator body. The channelindicator indicates the channel numbers in cooperation with a tuner. Thechannel indicating members can be individually removed from theindicator body and replaced. v

4 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENIEB H915 3.750.619

sum 1 OF 4 FIG. IA FIG. IB FIG.

PATENIED AUG 3.750.619

sum 2 or 4 PATENIEDAUB H915 3.750.619

sum u 0F 4 FIG. 12A

CHANNEL INDICATOR This invention relates to a channel indicator and,more particularly, to a channel indicator adapted for use in a tuner orthe like for receiving and selecting television signals of a UHF band.

A conventional UHF tuner which is used for receiving and tuning atelevision signal of a UHF band has been of a construction in whichtuning operation is continuously made. Accordingly, a channel indicatorwhich cooperates with this UHF tuner consists of a rotary drum, a rotarydisc, a wound belt or the like which is continuously graduated and apointer or an indication mark. However, the number of channels in theUHF band is so large as compared with the VHF band that one scalebetween each channel on the aforementioned continuously graduated rotarydrum or the like is extremely small and many scales appearsimultaneously on the indicating surface. As a result, it is ratherdifficult to read the scale. Since the prior art tuner is of a typewhich is continuously adjusted for tuning, if after this tuner was tunedto one channel for receiving the signal of that channel this tuner haveto be changed to other channel, an operation for tuning it to the otherchannel is required. Further, if the aforementioned one channel is to bereceived again after receiving the other channel, an operation fortuning to said one channel must be made again. Such tuning operation asdescribed above is rather troublesome. This is particularly troublesomeand time-consuming when frequencies of a plurality of broadcast channelsto be selected are widely separated from each other.

In order to eliminate the disadvantage of the UHF tuner of a continuousadjustment operation type, a preset type UHF tuner has been proposed andemployed. A detent type tuner is a kind of this preset type tuner. Inthis preset type UHF tuner, several channels which it is desired toreceive are respectively tuned in and these tuned-in states are preset.According to this preset type UHF tuner, the desired preset channel canbe readily and immediately selected by merely rotating a channelselecting knob intermittently and articulately as in a conventional VHFtuner..

However, the frequencies of the UHF band are higher than those of theVHF band by one figure and a service area of one station in which a UHFband television signal is transmitted and received is relatively narrow.Further, an adjacent station usually uses different channels from thoseof the one station for avoiding interference. Consequently, channelsused for each relatively narrow area are different from those used forother areas. Manufactures of UHF television receivers therefore mustmanufacture, as channel indicators which cooperates with the preset typeUHF tuners, many different indicators respectively on which differentcombinations of channel numbers used in each area are fixedly indicatedrespectively for each area. This manufacturing of respective indicatorsfor each area complicates a manufacturing process and a spare partscontrol, resulting in increase in the manufacturing cost.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to eliminate theabove described disadvantages of the conventional channel indicators andprovide a novel and useful channel indicator which is effectivelyadapted for use in a television tuner, particularly the preset type UHFtelevision tuner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a channel indicator inwhich channel indicating members each having its own channel numberindication can be easily replaced individually by other channelindicating members each having other desired channel number indication.According to this channel indicator, a user can easily change thechannel indicating members in accordance with channels to be used in hisarea. The manufactures, therefore, have only to prepare a channelindicator body on which channel indicating members are not mounted and anumber of channel indicating members having different channel numbers.Accordingly, the manufactures need not prepare channel indicators onwhich a combination of channel numbers are fixedly indicated withrespect to a large number of different combinations. They canmanufacture and provide a low-cost channel indicator effectively adaptedfor use in a UHF television receiver or the like used in a relativelynarrow area which has different channel numbers from other areas.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thedescription made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. IA to 1C are respectively perspective views of an indicator knobbody, channel indicating members and a holding plate which are componentparts of one embodiment of a channel indicator according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the channel indicator which has beenassembled from the component parts shown in FIGS. 1A to IC;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modification of the channelindicator shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are perspective views of a knob body, holding plate,indicator body and channel indicating members which are component partsof a second embodiment of the channel indicator according to theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the channel indicator which has beenassembled from the component parts shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D;

FIG. 6 is a back side perspective view of the channel indicator shown inFIG. 5; a

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a sheet mounting channel indicating membersthereon;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively side view of a knob body and aperspective view of an indicator body which are provided with a modifiedform of coupling mechanism for coupling the knob body with the indicatorbody which is adapted for use in the second embodiment of the channelindicator;

FIGS. 10 and II are respectively a side view of a knob body and aperspective view of an indicator body which are provided with anothermodification of coupling mechanism for coupling the knob body with theindicator body which is adapted for use in the second embodiment of thechannel indicator; I

FIGS. 12A and 12B are respectively perspective views of an indicatorknob body and a holding plate which are component parts of a thirdembodiment of the channel indicator according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a back side perspective view of the indicator knob body;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the channel indicator which hasbeen assembled from the component parts shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B; and

FIG. is a plan view of a part of the channel indicating part thereof.

First, one embodiment of the channel indicator according to theinvention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1Ashows an indicator knob body 11. The indicator knob body 11 isintegrally formed of a shaft 13 fitted on a selection rotary shaft 12for a tuner, an indicator body 15 of a shallow bottomed cylindricalshape having a rim portion 14, and a knob 17 erecting vertically from abottom 16 of the indicator body 15 and extending in a diametricaldirection thereof. The inside portion of the indicator body 15 encircledby the rim portion 14 is sectioned into six channel indicating memberreceiving parts 19 partitioned by partitions 18 and the knob 17.

FIG. 1B shows channel indicating members 20 to be received andaccommodated in the receiving parts 19. In the present embodiment, sixsector channel indicating members 20a, 20b, 20f are used. The channelindicating members 200 to 20f are marked on either or both sides thereofwith the channel numbers of desired channels. These channel indicatingmembers 20a to 20f are selected from a large number of prepared channelindicating members each carrying a different channel number inaccordance with the channel numbers used by the desired station.

FIG. 1C shows a holding plate 21 consisting of two holding plate halves21a and 21b. The holding plate 21 I is provided with six holes 22a, 22b,22f. The holes 22a to 22f are large enough for the channel numbersindicated on the channel indicating members 20a to 20f to be observedfrom outside.

The component parts shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C are assembled in thefollowing manner. Each of the channel indicating members 20a to 20fcarrying desired channel numbers which have been selected beforehand isplaced in each of the channel indicating member receiving parts 19 inthe indicator body 15 of the indicator knob body 10. The holding plate21 is fitted in the indicator body 15, covering the channel indicatingmembers 200 to 20f. Thus, the channel indicator 10 can be very easilyassembled as shown in FIG. 2. The channel indicating members can beobserved through the holes 22a to 22f of the holding plate 21. The shaft13 of the channel indicator 10 is inserted through a hole (not shown)formed in a front panel 23 of the television receiver and fitted on therotating shaft 12 (FIG. 1) of the preset type UI-IF tuner disposed inthe rear of the front panel 23.

In assembling the channel indicator 10, the user of the televisionreceiver can select necessary channel indicating members 204 to 20f fromamong a number of channel indicating members attached to the televisionreceiver in accordance with the UHF channel numbers of the station whichcover the area where the television receiver is used as its servicearea. Accordingly, the manufacturer of the television receivers need notmake channel indicators on which different channel numbers are fixedlyindicated for each area. This reduces the manufacturing cost of thechannel indicator. In case the user changes its residence by reason ofmoving his home, etc., and uses the television receiver in a differentservice area, he should pull off the channel indicator 10 from therotating shaft 12 of the tuner, disengage the holding plate 21 from theindicator body 15, remove the channel indicating members bearing thenumbers which need alteration from among the members 20a to 20fandreplace them by channel indicating members which bear newly requiredchannel numbers. The holding plate 21 is fitted in the indicator body 15and the channel indicator for indicating the new channel numbers is nowobtained. It is to be noted that the preset type UHF tuner should alsobe newly adjusted in its preset tuning so that it is capable ofreceiving the new broadcast channels.

A modification of the channel indicator of the above describedconstruction is shown in FIG. 3. At the bottom of the indicator body 15,there are formed a plurality of holes 24 at positions which correspondto the figures indicating the channel numbers of the channel indicatingmembers 20a to 20f. The channel indicating members 20a to 20f indicatethe figures of the channel numbers by contrast of transparent portionsand nontransparent portions. The front panel 23 is formed with a hole 25at the predetermined position and a lamp 26 which emits light isdisposed opposite to the hole 25.

The channel indicator is rotated by means of the knob 17 for selectionof a desired channel. The channel indicating member (the member 20b inthis case as shown in the figure) bearing the figure of the selectedchannel number and the hole 24 reach the position opposite to the lamp26. The light from the lamp 26 passes through the holes 25 and 24, thetransparent portion of the channel indicating member 20b and the hole22b, causing the channel number to be clearly recognized by the contrastbetween the transparent portion and the non-transparent portion of thechannel indicating member 20b. I

Nextly a second embodiment of the channel indicator according to theinvention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. FIG. 4Ashows a knob body 41. The knob body 41 consists of an integrally formedknob 42 and a rotating shaft 43. The shaft 43 is formed at its endportion adjacent the knob 42 with a flange portion 44 having a largerdiameter than the shaft 43. The shaft 43 is also formed with projections45a and 45b at diametrically opposite positions and adjacent to theflange portion 44. The projections 45a and 45b are provided with grooves46a and 4612. FIG. 4B shows a holding plate 47 which has eighttransparent window portions 48a, 48b, 48h and a central opening 49. Thecentral opening 49 is large enough to receive the shaft 43 of the knobbody 41 and has smaller diameter than the flange portion 44 and hasrecesses 50a and 50b which engage with the projections 45a and 45b.

FIG. 4D shows channel indicating members 51 consisting of eight channelindicating members 51a, 5 lb, 51h. Desired channel numbers are indicatedon either or both sides of the channel indicating members 5111 to 51h.These channel indicating members 510 to 51h have been selected andremoved from among a number of channel indicating members 51 attached toa sheet 52 shown in FIG. 7 channels from the 14th channel to 83rdchannel as shown in the figure). This sheet 52 is appended to atelevision receiver when a user purchases it.

FIG. 4C shows an indicator body 53. The indicator body 53 has aperipheral rim portion 54 and eight channel indicating member receivingparts 55a, 55b 55!: which are recessed for receiving and accommodatingthe channel indicating members 510 to 51h. The indicator body 53 furtherhas a central opening 56. The central opening 56 is large enough toreceive the shaft 43 of the knob body 41 and has recesses 57a and 57bwhich engage with the projections 45a and 45b. Partitions 58 whichseparate the receiving parts 55a to 55h from each other are formed withrecesses 59 which will facilitate removing of the channel indicatingmembers from the receiving parts 55a to 55h. The bottom surfaces ofthese receiving parts 55a to 55h are marked with reference numbers suchas U1, U2 U8 for facilitating placing and replacing of the channelindicating members.

The above described component parts shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D areassembled in the following manner. First, the channel indicating members51a to 51h indicating the desired channel numbers to be used are removedfrom the sheet 52 shown in FIG. 7. The channel indicating members 51a to51h are respectively placed in the channel indicating member receivingparts 55a to 55h of the indicator body 53. Nextly, the holding plate 47is fitted in the indicator body 53, covering the channel indicatingmembers 51a to 51h. The shaft 43 of the knob body 41 is then insertedthrough the central openings 49 and 56 of the holding plate 47 and theindicator body 53 and the projections 45a and 45b are fitted in therecesses 50a, 57a, 50b and 57b. At this time, the holding plate 47 is inabutting engagement with the flange portion 44 thereby to be restrictedin its position relative to the knob body 41. Thus, a provisionalassembly of the channel indicator 40 shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

Then, this provisional assembly of the channel indicator is turnedupside down as shown in FIG. 6. In a state in which the holding plate 47is in abutting engagement with the flange portion 44 of the knob body 40and the holding plate 47 and the indicator body 53 are fitted in theshaft 43 of the knob body 40, the projections 45a and 45b of the shaft43 project above the rear surface 60 of the indicator body 53. The rearsurface 60 is formed with small holes 61a and 61b which are of a depthwhich does not reach the channel indicating member receiving partsprovided on the top surface of the indicator body 53. An elastic spring62 is substantially of a 'U-shape and has bent portions 63a and 63b atboth ends. Both legs of the spring 62 are then engaged with the grooves460 and 46b of the projections 45a and 45b and the bent portions 63a and63b are engaged with the small holes 61a and 61b. This arrangementconnects the indicator body 53 and the shaft 43 integrally so that theydo not detach from each other. Thus, the assembly of the channelindicator 40 has been completed.

In case replacement of a part or whole of the channel indicating members51a to 51h of the channel indicator 40 becomes necessary, the channelindicator 40 is disassembled into each component part shown in FIGS. 4Ato 4D. The part or whole of the channel indicating members 51a to 51hare replaced by new channel indicating members indicating necessarychannel numbers which have been removed from the sheet 52. Then thecomponent parts are assembled in the same manner as previouslydescribed.

In the foregoing embodiment, the coupling of the knob body 40 and theindicator body 53 is made by means of the projections 45a and 45b, thespring 62, the small holes 61a and 61b etc. The invention is not limitedto this but other coupling mechanism such as the following one may beemployed. FIGS. 8 and 9 show one modified example of the couplingmechanism. The shaft 43 of a knob body 70 is provided on itscircumferential surface with an elastic projection 710 having a taper72a. A projection 71b (not shown) 'having the same shape as theprojection 71a is provided on the shaft 43 at a position diametricallyoppositeto the projection 71a. An indicator body 73 is provided adjacentto the opening 56 with projections 74a and 74b projecting above the rearsurface 60 of the indicator body 73. The projections 74a and 74b consistof first projecting portions 76a and 76b having tapered portions 75a and75b and second projecting portions 780 and 78b having tapered portions77a and 77b. For coupling the knob body with the indicator body 73, theshaft 43 of the knob body 70 is inserted into the opening 56 of theindicator body 73 and the projections 7 la and 71b are fitted in therecesses 57a and 57b and caused to project above the rear surface 60.When the knob body 40 is rotated in this state, the projections 71a and71b ride on the tapered portions a-and 75b of the projections 74a and74b. After the flange portion 44 abuts against the holding plate fittedin the indicator body 73 the projections 71a and 71b slightly flexelastically and ride over the first projections 76a and 76b to engage inthe valleys formed between the first-and second projections. Thus, theknob body 40 is connected with the indicator body 73. For disconnectingthe knob body 70 from the indicator body 73, the knob body 70. isfurther rotated in the same direction. The projections 71a and 71b ridesalong the tapered portions 770 and 77b and, flexing'slightly again, rideover the second projections 78a and 78b. The projections 71a and7lb 1are aligned in the recesses 57b and 57a and the shaft 43 of the knobbody 70 is pulled off.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another modification of the coupling mechanism ofthe knob body and the indicator body. The shaft 43 of a knob body 79 hasa threaded portion 80 adjacent to the flange portion 44. The shaft 43has a hole 81 formed in a diametrical direction adjacent the end of thethreaded portion 80. An indicator body 82 has a threaded portion '83formed on the inner peripheralsurface of the central opening "56. Twostuds 84a and 84b are provided on the back surface of the indicator body82. For connecting the knob body 79 with the indicator body 82, theshaft "49 is inserted through the opening 56. The knob body 79 isrotated to bring the threaded portion 80 in threaded engagement with thethreaded portion 83 until the flange portion 44 abuts against theholding plate fitted in the indicator body 82. A pin which is longerthan the diameter of the shaft 43 is inserted through the hole8l of theshaft 43 projecting from the back surface "60. Thus, the couplingoperation is completed. Even if' the knob body 70 is subject to a forcewhich rotates the knob body 79 in a direction in which theknob body 79is loosened from the engagement with the indicator body 82, the knobbody 79 does not detach from the indicator body 82 because the pin '85is locked bythe studs 84a and 84b. In case the knob body 79 is to beseparated from the indicator body 82, the pin 85 is pulled off the hole81, and the threaded portions80 and 83 are disengaged from each other byrotating the knob body 79 in an opposite direction.

Nextly, a third embodiment of the channel indicator according to theinvention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15. FIG. 12Ashows an indicator knob body 90. FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of theindicator knob body seen from the back side. The

indicator knob body 90 generally consists of a shaft 91 which fits on arotating selection shaft of the tuner, an indicator body 92 and a knob93 integrally formed together. The indicator body 92 is formed witheight openings 94a, 94b, 94h (represented by 94) having a substantiallyT-shape and being arranged radially on the same circumference. As shownin FIGS. 12A and 15, the opening 94 consists of an opening portion 96which has larger width and a smaller length than channel indicatingmembers 95 (only one of which is shown in the drawing for anillustrative purpose) and an opening portion 97 which has a smallerwidth than the channel indicating member 95. An eaves portion 104 isformed at the edge of the opening portion 97 projecting from the openingportion 96. The channel indicating members 95 are made of elasticmaterials such as plastics and formed with a knotch 103. FIG. 123 showsa holding plate 98 having a central opening 99 of a diameter which islarge enough to receive the shaft 91. An opening 99 is formed with arecess 100 which engages a projection 101 of the shaft 91. The surfaceof the holding plate 98 is marked with letters U1 to U8 for facilitatingmounting and replacing of the channel indicating members 95.

For assembling the above described component parts, the shaft 91 isinserted through the opening 99 of the holding plate 98 and theprojection 101 is brought into engagement with the recess 100 wherebythe holding plate 98 is adjusted in its position relative to theindicator knob body 90. Thus, the holding plate 98 is fitted inside ofan outer peripheral rirn portion 102 formed on the back side of theindicator body 92, thereby being connected to the indicator body 92.

Each desired channel indicating member 95 is then in-,

serted from the opening portion 96 of the opening 94 into space betweenthe holding plate 98 and the eaves portion 104 as shown in FIG. 12A, andthe whole of the channel indicating member 95 is received in the spaceas shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. This insertion of the channel indicatingmember 95 is made for each opening 94a to 94h.

For replacing the channel indicating member 95, the top portion of thechannel indicating member 95 is lifted by inserting a pin or the likeunder the recess 103 of the member 95 placed in the opening 96 and themember 95 can be pulled out of the opening 96.

Each of the foregoing embodiments has been described with reference to acase in which the channel indicator is applied to a preset type UHFtuner. The invention, however, is not limited to this type of tuner butit is applicable to other types of tuner including an ordinary UHFtuner. Further, this invention is not limited to these embodiments butvarious variations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope and spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. A channel indicator adapted for use with a tuner which receives andselects television signals upon rotation of a tuner shaft associatedtherewith, said channel indicator comprising a rotatable knob bodyhaving an integrally formed knob portion and shaft portion extendingtherefrom adapted to receive the shaft of the tuner to effect rotationthereof; an indicator body which is rotated integrally with said knobbody, said indicator body being formed separately from said knob body, aplurality of channel indicating members on which the number of channelsto be selected are indicated, said indicator body having channelindicating member receiving parts for receiving said channel indicatingmembers on the top surface thereof, said channel indicating memberreceiving parts being respectively arranged radially on the samecircumference in said indicator body and being of sector form, each saidchannel indicating member being of a sector form and of a size which canbe received in said receiving parts, a holding plate detachably mountedon said indicator body and covering said channel indicating membersreceived in said receiving parts of said indicator body so as to preventthem from being detached, said holding plate covering the front surfacesof said channel indicating members received in said receiving parts ofsaid indicator body and having transparent portions through which thechannel numbers on said channel indicating members can be' observed, anda coupling means for detachably connecting said knob body integrallywith said holding plate and said indicator body.

2. The channel indicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicatorbody and said holding plate are formed with openings through which saidshaft portion of said knob body is inserted, and wherein said couplingmeans comprises an engaging portion provided on said shaft portion whichappears above the back surface of said indicator body when said shaftportion is inserted through the openings of said indicator body and saidholding plate and a member which engages said engaging portion therebycoupling said shaft and said indicator body.

3. The channel as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator bodyfurther has partitions which separate said receiving parts from eachother, said partitions being formed with recesses for facilitatingremoving of said channel indicating members from said receiving parts.

4. The channel indicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said knob bodyfurther has a flange portion having a larger diameter than said shaftportion disposed at the end portion of said shaft portion which isadjacent said knob portion, and projections provided with grooves formedadjacent to said flange portion at diametrically opposite'positions ofsaid shaft portion, said holding plate and said indicator body beingformed with openings through which said shaft portion is inserted, therear surface of said indicator body being formed with small holes whichare of a depth which does not reach the top surface thereof, and whereinsaid coupling means comprises an elastic spring substantially of aU-shape and having bent portions at both ends, both legs of said springbeing engaged with said grooves of the projections and said bentportions of the spring being engaged with said small holes of theindicator body.

1. A channel indicator adapted for use with a tuner which receives andselects television signals upon rotation of a tuner shaft associatedtherewith, said channel indicator comprising a rotatable knob bodyhaving an integrally formed knob portion and shaft portion extendingtherefrom adapted to receive the shaft of the tuner to effect rotationthereof; an indicator body which is rotated integrally with said knobbody, said indicator body being formed separately from said knob body, aplurality of channel indicating members on which the number of channelsto be selected are indicated, said indicator body having channelindicating member receiving parts for receiving said channel indicatingmembers on the top surface thereof, said channel indicating memberreceiving parts being respectively arranged radially on the samecircumference in said indicator body and being of sector form, each saidchannel indicating member being of a sector form and of a size which canbe received in said receiving parts, a holding plate detachably mountedon said indicator body and covering said channel indicating membersreceived in said receiving parts of said indicator body so as to preventthem from being detached, said holding plate covering the front surfacesof said channel indicating members received in said receiving parts ofsaid indicator body and having transparent portions through which thechannel numbers on said channel indicating members can be observed, anda coupling means for detachably connecting said knob body integrallywith said holding plate and said indicator body.
 2. The channelindicator as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicator body and saidholding plate are formed with openings through which said shaft portionof said knob body is inserted, and wherein said coupling means comprisesan engaging portion provided on said shaft portion which appears abovethe back surface of said indicator body when said shaft portion isinserted through the openings of said indicator body and said holdingplate and a member which engages said engaging portion thereby couplingsaid shaft and said indicator body.
 3. The channel as defined in claim1, wherein said indicator body further has partitions which separatesaid receiving parts from each other, said partitions being formed withrecesses for facilitating removing of said channel indicating membersfrom said receiving parts.
 4. The channel indicator as defined in claim1, wherein said knob body further has a flange portion having a largerdiameter than said shaft portion disposed at the end portion of saidshaft portion which is adjacent said knob portion, and projectionsprovided with grooves formed adjacent to said flange portion atdiametrically opposite positions of said shaft portion, said holdingplate and said indicator body being formed with openings through whichsaid shaft portion is inserted, the rear surface of said indicator bodybeing formed with small holes which are of a depth which does not reachthe top surface thereof, and wherein said coupling means comprises anelastic spring substantially of a U-shape and having bent portions atboth ends, both legs of said spring being engaged with said grooves ofthe projections and said bent portions of the spring being engaged withsaid small holes of the indicator body.